Tyson - December 2013 - 2 years old!

Two years old.  I have no idea how that happened.  You are smart enough and big enough and a pain enough that I can believe you are 2, but at the same time I don't know how all that time could have possibly passed.  Like your last letter you have definitely proven you are in the terrible 2 stage, but you've been a little bit better in the last month.  For one, you've decided that dad is okay most of the time and will even crawl up on the bed and watch videos with him on his phone for a while.  This is a big improvement!  You also have some sweet moments with your brother and sister, like when you and Logan played on the floor together one morning before he caught the bus

and then posing for a picture with Tessa with Tess and looking more than happy to be there.

You still throw plenty of fits, which I'm not dumb enough to think are close to being over, but you've finally gotten that last eye tooth and have seemed to have mellowed a bit.  You talk and talk and talk and are starting to learn more and more letters and numbers.  Every time we go somewhere it seems like someone is impressed with how well you speak.  Plus you give good pep talks, and if someone tells you that you are awesome you enthusiastically return the compliment.  Ask me to find the video of that for you to watch.  I'm sure it's one that will be one of our family's favorites.

Sometimes you will get a little shy, but for the most part you aren't afraid to be goofy and silly.

We had a big snowfall in Kanab earlier this month, and while you didn't last as long as your brother and sister did playing in it, you managed to figure out that you were supposed to throw it at mom.  It's been almost a month since then, and you still call the snow "snowman."  We threatened Logan that he is not to correct you on that one!

You've now experienced your second Christmas, and I think you are now spoiled with presents!  We started off at Grandma Lori and Grandpa Rob's house the Saturday before Christmas where we had a little family party before the Pollock party.  You opened presents from Grandma and Grandpa and Tinsley, who had your name this year.

Then at the party you did pretty well with sitting on Santa's lap.  He had an app on his phone that scanned your finger and told whether you were naughty or nice.  I'm not sure how well it worked though because you came up as nice!

On Christmas Eve you all opened your presents from mom and dad - new jammies (of course) with some popcorn and a box of candy for watching our Christmas Eve movie.  You did a lot better with the movie this year and actually watched a portion of it instead of just crawling all over everyone and driving us nuts.

This picture of you all in your new jammies makes me laugh.  Tess spends a lot of time trying to get you to do what she wants you to do.  It's pretty frustrating for both of you!

Logan woke up about 6:45 or so on Christmas morning, and you weren't all too thrilled to be woken up.  I held you on my lap and tried to get you to open your stocking, but you pretty much just went back to sleep on my lap.

After a few minutes I had waved enough candy and cars in your face that you came to and decided that you wanted to be a part of the fun.  You got some puzzles, a car track, and some new cars, and you seemed pretty happy with your haul.

Tess bought little Christmas presents for you and Logan, and Logan bought one for her on both of your behalf, and after you all had opened them we told you to give hugs and say thank you.  This is my favorite picture from that morning.

Later that morning we loaded up and headed to Grandma and Grandpa Hillier's house to spend the day with them and Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe.  You got to open more presents and stayed pretty wound up and crazy and fun all day.

Then of course 3 days after the craziness of Christmas you got to open presents AGAIN on your birthday.  We started off the day with breakfast at Parry's lodge with dad and Tess (Logan was in Panguitch), and then I spent the rest of the day trying to keep you out of your presents.  I had wrapped your blocks the day before, and you found the present in your room (where you hardly ever go so I thought it was safe) and managed to unwrap a side before I caught you.  I caught you in there 2 more times before I finally wised up and moved it!

We had just a little family party at our house and both sets of grandparents came along with Aunt Lisa and Uncle Joe and Aunt Bre and Uncle Boo and Tinsley.  You pretty much got spoiled.  Your dad and I were impressed with how well you left (most of the) presents under the tree alone all month long, but I'm pretty sure no present would be safe now!  You got a fire truck, a fourwheeler, clothes, cars, Mater blocks, wood blocks, and a Mater pillow.

You gave your Mater pillow a hug and a kiss as soon as you got it out of the bag, but I wasn't quick enough to catch either.  It was pretty cute though.

Even if you are a "terrible" 2-year-old I wouldn't trade you.  You may fight me tooth and nail when it is time to get you dressed, but you think you are being so funny that I can't help but think it's funny (most of the time).  You splash all the water out of your bath, take drinks from your sippy only to spit them on the floor, and change your mind every 2 seconds and just otherwise spend most of your day driving me crazy, but both your dad and I are holding on to this age so tight because we know we won't have it for very much longer.  It's safe to say that 2013 was not an easy year for your dad and me, but every time I get excited about leaving it behind I can't even fully say that because you and your brother and sister have been so great and fun throughout the year that I will miss it for that reason.  The 3 of you have helped us through it, and for that I am so incredibly grateful.

Love you Ty-Ty,
Mom

(As I typed Ty-Ty just now I remembered another cute thing you did.  We were at the store and one of the workers said, "Hey buddy!" to you.  You pointed at yourself and said, "I'm TY-TY!")